OJJDP and the Bureau of Justice Assistance, in collaboration with the National Gang Center and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, will host the 2011 National Gang Symposium on June 710, 2011, in Orlando, FL. "Progress Through Partnerships" is the theme of the sixth triannual event. Attendees can learn about innovative and successful gang-prevention programs from national experts and receive the latest information on gang activities, trends, and effective strategies to address gang violence. Attorney General Eric Holder has been invited to be the keynote speaker.

In conjunction with the symposium, on June 6 and 7, certified Gang Resistance Education And Training (G.R.E.A.T.) officers will be able to attend a 2-day training to prepare them to offer the G.R.E.A.T. Families curriculum in their communities. The curriculum uses group interaction, activities, and skills practice to strengthen families by fostering more effective communication and decisionmaking.

Presymposium workshops begin on June 7, offering an opportunity for participants to select an all-day workshop where they will receive indepth instruction on one of the following topics of their choice:

On June 8 and 9, the conference will offer plenary sessions on a wide range of topics. Speakers will include Azim Khamisa, founder of the Tariq Khamisa Foundation, an organization dedicated to breaking the cycle of youth violence; Reverend Jeffrey Carr, the Los Angeles mayor's chief of staff and architect of the city's comprehensive approach to gangs; and Chief Louis Fetherolf of the Salinas (CA) Police Department, a major participant in the development of Salinas' multiagency response to gangs.

More than 60 workshop sessions will be offered from June 8 to June 10. The workshops will provide specialized learning opportunities for professionals from the fields of education, law enforcement, courts/corrections, prosecution, research, and youth development. Classes will include gang awareness topics; school-based gang responses; gang prevention, intervention, and suppression strategies; gang prosecution/supervision issues; and current gang research. Presenters with hands-on experience will describe innovative anti-gang programs that emphasize collaboration between community partners.

Registration and hotel information may be found on the symposium's Web site or by contacting the National Gang Center at 8503850600, ext. 270 or 320.